Mapping of QTL for resistance against Fusarium head blight in the winter wheat population Pelikan//Bussard/Ning8026

Abstract

AbstractWe report on the identification of FHB (Fusarium head blight) resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) of the donor ‘G93010’ (Bussard/Ning8026) in the background of elite breeding material adapted to the central European climate. With a multiple interval mapping method, two major resistance QTL were identified. Qfhs.lfl‐7BS/5BL and Qfhs.lfl‐6BS reduced FHB severity individually by 30% and 24%. The combination of both QTL decreased disease severity most effectively by about one half. Qfhs.lfl‐6BS is most likely identical to Fhb2, thus, the effectiveness of Fhb2 in central European breeding material has been validated. Qfhs.lfl‐7BS/5BL overlapped with QTL for plant height and heading date. Nevertheless, the selection of lines combining a good FHB resistance level with an acceptable plant height was possible. As the donors of the QTL have probably not yet been utilized in European breeding material, we identified well‐adapted lines of the mapping population as valuable donors for marker‐assisted breeding programmes.